Turkey, Saudi could launch anti-IS ground operation in Syria: Ankara

ISTANBUL: Turkey and Saudi Arabia could launch a ground operation against Islamic State (IS) miltants in Syria, while Riyadh is also sending war planes to a Turkish base to fight the extremists, the Turkish foreign minister said Saturday.

“If there is a strategy (against IS) then Turkey and Saudi Arabia could enter into a ground operation,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying by the Yeni Safak and Haberturk newspapers after taking part in the Munich Security Conference.

He added: “Saudi Arabia is also sending planes to Turkey, to (the base of) Incirlik. They (Saudi officials) came, did a reconnaissance of the base. At the moment it is not clear how many planes will come.”